Fly line to leader connection/knot

[wildtrout2]

I'm sure it's been discussed, and I tried the Search for this, but nothing specific came up. Anyway, I'm curious what type of knot folks use for connecting your line to your leader? I like the nail knot for this, because it goes through the tip top pretty cleanly, though I try to avoid that situation when I can. I do find it tough to tie though.

I need to elaborate on my post. I use the nail knot because I use a tippet ring, rarely having to replace the line/leader connection, because it's just tippet, not the whole leader, that needs replacing. When I do need to replace an entire leader, which is very rare, I get the shop to tie the nail knot after I buy a new leader. 😉

 

[Swattie87]

Loop to loop with perfection loops, or just using the welded loop on the fly line. Lazy, and easier to deal with on the stream than a nail knot IMO.

I use braided furled leaders which lend themselves to this connection. If I was fishing tapered mono leaders I’d go with a nail knot.

 

[nd1001]

I also use the welded loop on a fly line, with a loop-to-loop connection. If the fly line loop wears out on the stream, I’ll resort to a nail knot. But when I see the welded loop getting close to breaking, I’ll snip it off at home and create a new fly line loop with thread and UV resin.

 

[Forestfishin]

Used the nail knot when I first got into fly fishing way back when but just use the loop to loop that comes on the line now. I do keep a nail knot tool and small printed instructions in the ziplock I keep in my pack in case the line loop ever breaks on the stream.

 

[StreamBottom]

I'm sure it's been discussed, and I tried the Search for this, but nothing specific came up. Anyway, I'm curious what type of knot folks use for connecting your line to your leader? I like the nail knot for this, because it goes through the tip top pretty cleanly, though I try to avoid that situation when I can. I do find it tough to tie though.

I’m in the Nail knot camp.
I don’t really swap out leaders to make a switch to the loop to loop connection.

And like Forestfishin I keep the nail tool in my vest/ pack. Without it I’d be hard pressed to tie a nail knot with a nail.

 

[wildtrout2]

I’m in the Nail knot camp.
I don’t really swap out leaders to make a switch to the loop to loop connection.

And like Forestfishin I keep the nail tool in my vest/ pack. Without it I’d be hard pressed to tie a nail knot with a nail.

I've tried to tie it with a nail, but had very poor results. And, that was at home, couldn't imagine attempting it streamside. 🙂

 

[NetWork]

I cut the welded loop off my fly line then make a microloop that moves through the guides more easily than the original welded loop. To attach the leader to the microloop, a Davy knot.

 

[brookiefan]

How do you make the microloop? And to wildtrout2, I use a Knot needle tool. I can tie a needle knot with it in less than a minute. Check their video.

 

[RLeep2]

If I don't have a welded loop on a new line, I use a 12-14" piece of leader butt attached to the fly line with a speed nail knot (basically a Uni scrinched down until it bites into the pvc enough to hold). Hit that connection with a dot of UV resin or even super glue. Then I put a perfection loop or even just a double overhand loop into the other end of the 12" butt section and go loop to loop to the leader from there. There may be better ways of doing it, but this is how I've done it for 50 years and it still makes me happy and I've never had one give out yet.

I don't need no steekin" nail..

nailless nail knot - Google Search

 

[Bamboozle]

I swap leaders often (furled to woven to braided to knotted) going back to the Civil War and IMHO a loop to loop connection, while not necessarily the smoothest connection is the only way to fly.

In the "olden" days I would nail, needle or Dave Whitlock Zap-a-Gap splice a 4" - 6" section of stout leader material to the end of my fly line and tie a perfection loop into that. All the leaders I bought or made would also have a loop so it was easy-peasy to swap.

Once fly line manufacturers created the welded loop I never looked back.

FWIW - Many moons ago through an association with noted Dutch fly tier Hans Weilenmann, I connected with another Dutch chap named Sepp Fuchs. Sepp came up with a way to make welded loops on fly lines that didn't have them, or repair broken welded loops on fly lines that did using heat shrink tubing.

He sold a kit in those days (which Hans helped me to score), but in reality all you need is the right size heat shrink tubing and some finesse to make or repair your own loops.

In regards to:

I've tried to tie it with a nail, but had very poor results. And, that was at home, couldn't imagine attempting it streamside. 🙂

ANY knot you rely on in fishing, camping, mountain climbing, survival, etc. that you MIGHT need to tie but don't tie unless you need to, should be practiced repeatedly so you can tie it in your sleep, in darkness or when drunk...

...which is VERY important to me. 😉

 

[PennKev]

How do you make the microloop?

Watch this video.

Micro Loop

 

[jifigz]

I'm a loop-to-loop person. Perfection knot is all that's needed..quick and easy to tie.

 

[lars]

i like a needle nail knot

 

[dudemanspecial]

+1 for the nail knot camp. I use the Tie Fast tool https://www.orvis.com/product/tie-fast-knot-tying-tool/28TR.html

I coat the knot with uv resin or pliobond and taper the coating out so it makes a little ramp.

I might have to do it once a year at most. I use a long enough butt section that lasts me quite a long time of blood knot tying if I have to adjust or change something out.

 

[caddisflyer]

Coated nail knot like above.

 

[Patroutfly]

Nail knot. I watched videos, practiced at home till I could tie it.

 

[PennKev]

For the last few years I've been using the micro loops as shown in the video I posted. You can dip the loop in CA glue to harden and seal it and then clinch knot your leader butt right to it, or use a loop-loop if you make the micro loop big enough to accept such a connection. The micro loops are remarkably strong and durable IMO. These are not a euro-nymph specific thing either, I use them on my conventional fly line set ups.

Prior to that, I sometimes used needle knots as I liked the added security, and smoothness of the leader butt running thought the core of the fly line... ... or I just used loop-loop with the welded loop that comes on most modern lines. The welded loops rank high on convenience, but low on everything else in my experience. Nail/needle knots are a giant PITA as far as I'm concerned, in fact all line to leader connections can be if they fail in the field.

 

[mt_flyfisher]

I like to have the smoothest connections between my fly lines and leaders. So, no loop to loop connections for me. So, I mostly use some type of nail knot connections. And, if need be, I can and have tied a nail knot on the stream by wrapping the leader around my index finger.

At home, I sometimes use a nail knot Tie Fast or similar knot tying tool, or here are a couple other ways I’ve attached my lines and leaders:

Insert a bodkin about 1/4” or so into the end of the fly line, and push it out through the side. Insert the leader into the hole you’ve created, and tie a nail knot above where the leader protrudes through the side of the fly line. (Excuse the unclear picture, and the sloppy knot.)

I also sometimes use the Super Glue technique, buy inserting a bodkin 1/4”-1/2” into the end of the line, coating the end of the leader with this glue, and pushing it into the line. (I wouldn’t want to use this if I was going to fish for tarpon, but it’ll do for the average sized trout in PA).

 

[Troutmeister]

I'm surprised nobody uses the Albright knot. Much easier to tie than the nail knot and goes though the guides just as easily.

 

[NetWork]

Watch this video.

Micro Loop

Yes, this is how I do it. A couple of comments. Devin mentions using it for euronymph rigs, not fly line, but I use it on my fly lines without issue. Also, I frequently attach leaders with butt sections up to 20 lb.